College Students Face High Food Insecurity
On a sweltering Tuesday afternoon, people and cars are lining up outside a North Seattle College campus parking garage. Inside the refreshingly cool confines of the garage, a weekly food bank distribution is in full swing. Volunteers in orange safety vests pass out food bags to students and community members, who smile and exchange hellos.
“The food really helps,” says student Joel Perry. “Everyone will help you pay for books and tuition, but they don’t cover rent and food.”
Every week, the University Food Bank supplies the college with more than 400 bags of groceries and hundreds of pounds of milk and proteins for these distributions. According to Jeanette Miller, Director of Workforce Education here at NSC, the need is critical.
“These students are caught in a vortex of high housing costs, high tuition, and rising food costs that leave them vulnerable.”
36% of students here are experiencing food insecurity. Most don’t qualify for EBT or “food stamps” because they don’t work enough hours. That leaves a gap that the College is looking to fill.
Student Chris Simpson is busy filling bags of fresh fruits and vegetables. He studies Computer Sciences at the college, has a work-study job on campus, and volunteers here. He’s had affordable housing for years but will lose his place in the next few months. The cost is going to make his busy schedule even tougher.
“Right now, I’m getting money together for first, last, and deposit. That’s going to be around $3,000. I’m going to have to take a second job here soon.”
Chris has been offered groceries the past couple of weeks and graciously declined. But today, after serving everyone else, he’ll take home a produce bag. “It’s just a hard time between paychecks,” says Chris.
Food Lifeline is proud to partner with University Food Bank and North Seattle
College by providing food and resources for this program. Food Lifeline supports
community-led programs and community-based solutions to ending hunger.